None
seems to have evinced any interest so far in the ancient city layout of
Srilankan Tamil. It is unfortunate that those who are engaged in the research
and investigation work about the historical facts pertaining to the kings
and kingdoms have turned a blind eye to the architectural style and expertise
of Tamil. Because of this indifference and black-out when research work
about cities like Anuradhapuram, Yaappahuva that were capitals hundreds
of years prior to the time when Nallur was Rajdhani, or,were to be, it
proves a herculean task together information about Nallur Rajdhani city
layout. In such a situation I have undertaken the research work on Nallur
city layout to the best of my ability. My desire to study the city layout
of Nallur Rajdhani was not something accidental. In my young age when I
would be reading the novels of Kalki, Jagasirpian and such others I used
to always wonder why it always remained a rarity to come across historical
evidences about Nallur which was as famous a city as Tanjore, Madurai and
Kanchipuram. When I grew in age and knowledge I could realize that the
foreign rule and our people’s bent of mind which spends its time and energy
in singing the past glory but remains indifferent to the need for preserving
our rare historical symbols and monuments are reasons for this blackout.

As proofs for the disinterestedness
of our people we can cite the following. At the initial stage of this century
Swami Gnanaprakasar had written a brief essay on Kopai fort. But today
see the condition of the place and space where the fort was said to be
once? When I was studying architecture in Moratuwa University in such a
dismal atmosphere the wish to do research on Nallur City layout was renewed
by several factors listed below.

Sinhalese professor Nimal De Silva
who was teaching us a lesson inconnection with traditional architectural
style briefed us about theinvestigation and research- work
on the City layout of ancient Anuradhapuram and it was then that the wish
to study the Nallur Rajdhani city layout sprang in me. When my friend and
my senior by one year, Thanapalasingam told me that once he had intended
to study about Nallur but then abandoned the idea as something impossible,
my interest in the City of Nallur grew further. Right from my childhood
it had been my nature to undertake those attempts that others claimed ‘not
possible’. This resulted in my choosing ‘Nallur Rajdhani’ City layout as
the topic for thesis work to be and undertaken for the study of ‘The history
of Architecture’ From that dayonwards, till date, whenever I get
the opportunity I make it a point tomention without fail about the Nallur
city layout. Several articles onNallur City were published in the
weekly supplement of Elanadu which wasbeing brought out from Ceylon and
which encouraged me a lot in the literaryfield.

A write-up on Kopai fort appeared
in VeEra Kesari. In recent times I amwriting about Nallur in Thayagam
Magazine too. It is my wish that as likeNallur Rajdhani the layouts of Singainager
(Vallipuram), Kandharodai andsuch other cities too should be
studied. I fully agree with the claim thatVallipuram and Singai Nagar are
one and the same. The ancient symbols that can be seen on the sand banks
of that region and the coinage ‘Puram’ in Vallipuram are the principal
reasons for this conclusion of mine.InTamilnadu we can come across a lot
of cities that have this Suffix ‘Puram’in their names such as the capitals
of Chola empire ‘Jayankonda Cholapuram’, ‘Ulagamahadevipuram’ and also
the cities Kanchipuram, Nandhipuram which were famous in Pallava period.)
As Vallipuram too ends with ‘Puram’ in the same way as Maavittapuram, undoubtedly
it would've also been a city having royal and religious significance. (The
name Nallur too is of this nature. In Tamil Nadu we an come across a lot
of royally and religiously significant places having names ending with
the word ‘Nallur’).

Persons like Dr.C.K..Sitrambalam
are of the opinion that Nallur is also theresidue of Cholas. The names of
places such as Chembian Patru, Nallur,Vallavar Kone Pallam in Maavittapuram,
Gangaikondan in Navindil are residues o Cholas here. (Sindhanai, July 84).
Not only in the northern region but even in the east there are very many
places and aspects that call for extensive study and research work. And,
I sincerely wish that investigation is undertaken about these too. And
I firmly hope that my wish would be realized one day or other.